Our Origin Story
Philotimo Life began with a question: Why don’t we talk about death? For Maria, this question wasn’t abstract—it was personal. After losing her mother at the age of two, she grew up learning that death was something people avoided, a topic that made others uncomfortable. Over time, she realized that silence around grief only made it harder.
But the final catalyst for creating Philotimo Life came during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the world collectively faced profound loss, it became painfully clear how unprepared we were to process grief—both individually and as a society. Maria witnessed firsthand the emotional fallout of mismanaged grief, unresolved trauma, and the weight of so many untold losses. She intuitively knew that in the years following the lockdowns, we would continue to experience the long-term effects of mass grief and disconnection.
Philotimo Life was born out of the need to create practical, human-centered solutions to help individuals, workplaces, and industries navigate grief with care, intention, and action.
Today, Philotimo Life partners with organizations, workplaces, and end-of-life professionals to provide grief-informed leadership training, consulting, and workshops that help reshape how we approach loss. Because grief doesn’t exist in isolation—it’s woven into every part of life.
Our Values
At Philotimo Life, we believe that how we talk about death shapes how we live. Our work is rooted in compassion, emotional intelligence, and human connection—because grief isn’t just something to endure in private; it’s something to be witnessed and understood.
Grief can be isolating, but it doesn’t have to be. We foster spaces where people can share, connect, and feel supported.
Community & Connection
Grief can be serious, but life with grief is still meant to be joyful. We believe in finding moments of lightness and creativity even in difficult conversations.
Play & Joy
Death reminds us that life is fleeting, which is why we champion living with intention, meaning, and purpose while honoring the uniqueness of every grief experience, respecting all perspectives, backgrounds, and emotions without judgment.
Authentic & Understanding
Why Philotimo Life?
Grief is often treated as a problem to be fixed, something clinical, or something to "move on" from—but we see it differently.
At Philotimo Life, we take a non-clinical, human-centered approach to grief, loss, and life transitions. Our work is grounded in thanatology, lived experience, and ongoing research, blending academic knowledge with real-world understanding. We believe grief isn’t just an individual experience—it shapes workplaces, communities, and entire industries.
Through workshops, consulting, and leadership training, we help individuals and organizations navigate loss with compassion, intention, and practical tools. Our approach isn’t about empty platitudes or quick fixes—it’s about creating meaningful, lasting change in how we talk about, prepare for, and support each other through grief.
At Philotimo Life, we don’t just talk about grief—we actively work to reshape how society engages with it. Because grief isn’t something to be avoided—it’s something to be acknowledged, understood, and integrated into life.
